Device for conductor and pipe connections on open decks



United States Patent [72] l nventors Walter Eriksen;

Sverre Strengelsrud, Baerum, Norway [2]} Appl. No. 767,258 [22] Filed Oct. 14, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee Platcgods A/S Oslo, Norway [54] DEVICE FOR CONDUCTOR AND PIPE CONNECTIONS ON OPEN DECKS 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Y0ung & Thompson ABSTRACT: The invention concerns a device for conductor and pipe connections on open decks, said device being sunk into a cavity in the deck, whereby the connection member is connected to a cable or pipe in the cavity by means of a flexible connector and is secured to a member which may be moved upwardly above the plane of the deck and locked in operational position. According to the invention a locking [52] 137/362 mechanism in operational position engages the unit formed by [51] .t Fl6e 5/00 the connection member, in such a manner that a connecting [50] t. 137/362, part cannot be connected to the connection member before 1 the locking mechanism is in operation.

PATENTEU DEC29 mm FIG.

NVENTORS WA; 754' Emmy r7 7 ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR CONDUCTOR AND PIPE CONNECTIONS ON OPEN DECKS The present invention relates to a device for conductor and pipe connections on open decks, said device being sunk into a cavity in the deck, whereby the connecting piece which is connected to a cable respectively a pipe in the cavity by means of a flexible conductor respectively pipe, is secured to a member which may be pulled respectively pivoted upwardly above the plane of the deck and maintained in operational position by means of a locking mechanism.

It is amongst others from German Pat. No. 675.894 known such a device, but this has the disadvantage that the conductor respectively pipe, which is connected to the device in its operational position by not intended closing, without breaking the connection may be jammed and thereby destroyed.

The object of the present invention is to bring about an improvement of the said known device, by which this disadvantage is overcome.

According to the invention this is achieved by the lockin mechanism in operational position engaging the unit formed by the plug connection, respectively the outlet pipe, in such a manner that a connecting part cannot be inserted into the plug or outlet pipe respectively before the locking mechanism is in operation. It is a further advantage that the unit is not lowerable into the cavity before the connecting part, and thereafter the locking mechanism is taken out of operational position. Finally, the locking mechanism in itself automatically covers the opening of the cavity when the device is sunk into the deck. In this manner an effective protection from breakage in the conductor is achieved,,which again ensures safety from accidents, fire or explosion.

Devices of this type are particularly advantageous for use on airports where airplanes are disposed over a large area.

An embodiment example of the invention is further described in the following with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention in sunken position in a deck.

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 shown from above.

FIG. 3 shows, in the same manner as FIG. I, the device in operational position and in section.

The device according to the embodiment example is mounted in a cover 3 which covers a cavity l in a deck. The

cover which is of rigid construction permitting of heavy loading, is provided on the under side thereof with two pivotable arms 2, the outer ends of which are pivotally connected to a unit 5 which, in this case, contains a socket 6. The socket 6 is connected to a cable in the cavity by means of a flexible conduit 4. The unit 5, which is provided with an upper end wall and sidewalls, is, by means of said arms upwardly pivotable through an opening in the cover 3 by means of a weight 9 connected to one end of a wire orthe like which runs over a pulley and, at the other end, is connected to the lower portion of the unit 5. The opening is closable by means of a lid 8 hinged to the cover 3 in such a manner that, when the cover is opened, the device will automatically pivot up from the cavity. The upper side edge of the upwardly pivoted cover 8 will, by means of a spring force (not shown on the drawing) be pressed against the device and snapped into a guide 10 on said device, so that the device is automatically locked in operational position and at the same time, the cover 8 forms a front wall. An outlet plug 7 is shown inserted into the socket 6. When the cover 8 is pivoted out of the guide on the unit, subsequent to removal of plug 7, the unit 5 may be pushed down into the cavity and retained therein in locked position by means of the cover 8.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for making connections on a support surface, comprising a unit mounted for vertical movement above and below said surface, coupling means carried by said unit for the detachable connection of a flexible member to said unit, and means for releasably locking said unit in a raised position above said surface, said locking means covering said coupling means in positions other than said raised position to prevent making a said connection until unit is in said raised position,

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus being disposed in a recess in said support surface, said locking means comprising a cover for said recess when said unit is in a lowered position below said surface. 

